What's going on with my bread!?!?!?

[miss_thenorth]

The last few batches I have made have not turned out.

First two batches, made with flour that I have used for the last 8 or so batches of bread. whole wheat flour (storebought) Previously made great bread. then made two batches that did not rise properly. they were also hard and crumbly.

Switched to local stone ground 60% whole wheat flour. made one batch, and it rose great, but then flopped. My yeast is not old. (two months). Everything else is the same as how I usually make it.

Any ideas on what is going on here, and what I might do to remedy this? I,m kinda hesitant to make more.

 

[gettinaclue]

Do you use shortning or lard in your bread? Check that, also, check your baking soda.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I use butter, and no baking soda.

milk, butter, salt,honey, molasses, flour, yeast. Same as I have been doing for years.

 

[gettinaclue]

Are you proofing your yeast?

If you are and it's coming back okay, I got nothing.

Wish I could be more help.

 

[miss_thenorth]

That's why im stumped. Everything is the same--including the temp in the house. Although it might be a bit damper, since it has been rainy the past coupla days.

 

[me&thegals]

That is so frustrating!! I have 2 things I do when bread is messing up. I make sure to include 1 tablespoon of vital wheat gluten in whole-grain recipes. It makes it fluffy and light. And, some recipes are so tasty but just mess up a lot, so I make them into French bread-style loaves. They never seem to have texture issues. Good luck!

 

[Beekissed]

This happened to me this past year and I found out that the new bag of yeast I had just opened wasn't any good. Had to toss the whole thing. My mom had the same thing happen. We both get our yeast in the vacuum-packed bags from Sam's Club and we keep them in the freezer until opened, and then we keep them in the fridge.

I'd try a different batch of yeast!

 

[SKR8PN]

I'd have to vote for the yeast being bad as well. I had the very same thing happen to the last two loaves of whole wheat I made also, and I also switched flour! It does rattle your confidence though, doesn't it? I just started making sourdough. I LOVE having a "pet" in the fridge all the time!

 

[patandchickens]

Proof your yeast, if you haven't.

Any chance your water has gotten odd?

Hard and crumbly sounds to me like unhealthy yeast or possibly insufficient water; rose well then flopped sounds like it maybe overrose (too much yeast, too much sugar); but I am not swearing to any of this

Good luck, hope you figure it out,

Pat

 

[gettinaclue]

Beekissed,

I just bought one of those vacuum-packed bags for the first time. I haven't opened it yet.

Do I use it the same as the little packets?